Apparatus for handling laundry



. ct. 15A, 1929. L D, ROBlNsoN ET AL 1,732,210

APPARATUS FOR HANDLING LAUNDRY Filed Jan. 21, 1928 5 Sheets-Sheet l Q` Nl" N 51, 'IIJ rlllll`l`- m v 7////////////////// *q 'y lter/u y Oct# l5,1929.

L. D. ROBINSON ET AL APPARATUS FOR HANDLING LAUNDRY Filled Jan. 21, 19285 Sheets-Sheet 2 Oct. 15,1929. L. D. RoBxNsoN ET AL APPARATUS FORHANDLING LAUNDRY Filed Jan. 21, 1928. 5 Sheets-Sheet Freddi-icl( G Small Oct- 15, l929 L.. D. ROBINSON ET A1. v 1,732,210

APPARATUS FOR HANDLING LAUNDRY Filed Jan. 21,/1928 S'Sheets-sneet 4 Oct15, 1929. l., D. ROBINSON ET Al.

APPARATUS FOR HANDLING LAUNDRY Filed Jan. 21, 1928 5 Sheets-Sheet man! y41g) the proper owner.

Patented Oct. 15, 1929 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE LAWRENCE D. ROBINSONAND FREDERICK C. SMAIL, F WOLLASION, HASSAUHU- SETTS; SAID ROBINSONASSIGNOR T0 SAID EMAIL APPARATUS FOR HANDLING LAUNDRY Application ledJanuary 21, 1928. Serial No. 248,503.

In the usual steam laundry, one of the most serious problems is theclassification of the individual articles in any bundle lot to the endthat the individual articles may not only be given the proper washingtreatment according to their characteristics such as texture, color,etc., but that all of the articles comprising such bundle lot mayafterwards be accurately reassembled and returned to As collected anddelivered at the laundry, the individual articles comprising anyparticular lot are indiscriminately bundled in a suitable container.After weighing and recording each lot as a unit, it is necessarylto'open each individual lot and classify the several pieces comprisingthe same. Heretofore this has caused error not only as to classificationof the individual pieces, but as to .subsequent regrouping of 2o allpieces for return to the owner, and in fact,

'the prinicipal source of complaint in the average laundry is due toerrors occurring in one or the other of these operations.

Our invention, broadly, aims to reduce to the minimum the chance forerror from either of these factors, and as such involves novelty both asto procedure and apparatus for carrying out such procedure. To this end,we have equipped our apparatus with certain locks and safeguards whichare in themselves so related as to each other as to be incapable ofoperation until such time as conditions are ready for their operation,thus providing for that efficiency and accuracy which modern competitiveconditions demand. By it, we not only effect economies not possibleunder methods heretofore in use, but obtain these results by procedureand efficient apparatus which actually increases the accuracy ofclassification and assortment. Among other advantages, we secure amaterial saving in iioor space in that we are able to reduce the numberof sorting tables necessary to handle a given volume of business.

We also effect decided savings in operating costs as to both the numberof sorting operatives needed and in the calibre of such operatives asregards wages. Our invention permits us to employ cheaperlabor to do thesame work which heretofore has been done 'sion required and also avoidsinjury to the individual articles due to undetected errors ofclassification.

The method of carrying out our invention, together with suitableapparatus for the practice thereof, is described and shown in theaccompanyin s ecification and drawings and the characteristic noveltythereof is particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a diagram of our installation.

Fig. 2 is a side elevation at the assorting station.

Fig. 3 is a plan view of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a front view of Figs. 2 and 3 as viewed from the right in Fig.3.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary end view as seen from the end of the assortingdrum opposite to that shown in Fig. 2 and particularly illustrating thesignal mechanism.

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary elevation of the assorting drum as Viewed fromthe left in Fig. 3, the signal mechanism being shown'in a conditioncorresponding to that shown in Fig. 5.

Figs. 7 and 8 are fragmentary sections of the key-tag controlled treadleoperated lock for the assorting drum, Fig. 7 showing the parts intheirlocked positions and Fig. 8 showing the unlocked position of the parts.

Fig. 8a is a front view of the key-tag hook 90 removed.

Figs. 9 and 9a are detail views of the curtain actuated lock at theassorting side of the assorting drum, Fig. 9 showing the lock appliedand Fig. 9L showing the curtain drawn down and the lock released.

Fig. 10 is a fragmentary detail view of a safety lock adapted to preentback-lash of the assorting drum, said lock being automatically moved outof locking position by the 100 drum as it rotates therepast andautomatically returning to the position to prevent accidental rotationof the drumin reverse direction.

Fig. 11 is a fragmentary detail section at the axis of rotation of thedrum and particularly illustrating the mounting of thecompartment-forming shelves radially about said aXls.

Fig. 12 is a section on the line 12-12 of Fig.. 11, and

Figs. 13, 14, 15, and 16 are detail views illustrating the automaticlock for the turn table Fig. 13 showing the turn table lock in itsnon-applied position;

Fig. 14 showing the lock applied;

Fig. 15 showing the lock unapplied'as in Fig. 13, and

Fig. 16 showing the position of the parts after the lock has beenapplied and subsequently released to permit rotation of the turn tablethrough another step in its rotation.

Referring to Fig. 1 which shows a diagrammatic view of the installation,the bundles of laundry in their original containers as delivered at thelaundry by the collectors are first sent to a weighing and recordingstation 1 where they are weighed. At the same time, the name, address,and weight are entered as a permanent record and the lot is assigned anumbered key-tag which is mailitained for that particular lot throughoutits travel through the laundry. This key-tag system is a standardarticle commonly used in laundries and forms no part of our invention. I

After being recorded, weighed, and tagged, the lot is passed to ahandling station 2 which, as contemplated herein, consists of aturntable having a plurality of radial compartments, each compartmentbeing intended to receive all of the articles of laundry comprised in aparticular lot. From the station 2, each lot is successively passed toan assorting station 3. The asserting station 3 will be moreparticularly described hereinafter but for present purposes may bedescribed as a compartmented drum or cylinder disposed between assortingand netting tables arranged on either side of its axis of rotation. y

Each lot as it is taken from the station 2 is assorted at the sortingtable nearest said station, the individual pieces of that lot beingclassified and appraised according to their character as dark, light,shrinkable, fadable, etc., in the various compartments at that side ofthe assorting drum. When the assorting is completed as to thisparticular lot, the operative working on this side of the drum signalsthe operatives working at lthe other side of the drum and the drum isrevolved through a part revolution to bring the assorted lot intoposition at the netting table at the far side of the drum.

The operatives working at the netting table remove the articles from thesame compartments into which they were placed during the assortingoperation and place the contents of each compartment in an individualnet, attaching to this net a tag from the series of key-tags assigned tothis particular lot of laundry and which were delivered to the nettingoperation while the assortingl operative was assorting that particularlot o goods.

The netted units com rising the-flot are then passed to a battery olfwashing machines 4, according to the character of the articles containedin the individual nets, dark clothes,- for example, being passed to onewasher and light clothes to another.

After washing is completed, the netted units of the lot are transferredto the battery of driers or extractors 5 from which they are passed toan assembly station 6 where the articles in the individual netscomprising the lot are removed from the nets and are reassembled as aunit lot, except in the case of such articles which may need to beironed. The articles which require ironing are passed to suitableironers (not shown) and after ironing are reassembled at the baggingstations? with the remaining articles of thelot which did not requireironing, the same identifying key-tags being retained so that when theentire lot is finally reassembled, they can be readily identified. Whenreassembling and bagging has been completed, the lot is checked with therecord which was made at the time the lot entered the laundry and thelot is then ready for return to the customer.

While our invention involves broadly the systemmatic handling of eachindividual lots whereby the individual articles of the lot areidentified at all times, it also involves novelty both as to structureand relation of the handling and asserting stations 2 and 3. We will,therefore, now proceed to describe such stations in detail.

Referring to Figs. 2 and 3 which show these stations in detail, it willbe noted that the handling stat-ion 2 linvolves a track-Way 10 elevatedfrom the floor and as here shown of circular form. This track-way may besupported above the floor at any convenient height as by the supports11. Revoluble on the trackway is a horizontally disposed drum or shellcomprising a circular outer ring 12 of appropriate depth and aconcentric inner ring 13 which is assembled as a unit andis providedwith rollers 14 tracking in the trackway 10.

The rings 12 and 13 are spaced fromeach other at appropriate distancesto define therebetween an annular compartment 15 whichis radiallysubdivided by partitions 16 into any desired number of individualcompartments 17. The outer ring 12 may be provided with a door 12 topermit entrance and exit of the operative into the included workingspace 18,

the track-way being broken at this pointfas,l shown in Fig. 4. Eachcompartment is def1 signed to accommodate all of the articles comprisedin any particular lot of laundry which are placed therein after the lotis weighed.

The inner ring 13 is of such diameter as to afford within it a workingspace 18 within which an operative stands and it is the duty of thisoperative to successively sort the articles contained in eachcompartment 17 and pass them to the assorting drum 3. For this purpose,there is provided adjacent the spaceV 18 an assorting table 19. Thistable is supported on suitable standards 19 rising from the floor andprojects forwardly over the station 2 a convenient distance here shownas approximately to the center of such stations. At its outer edge, thetable 19 is cut out as indicated at 19 to expose only the underlying binor compartment of the turn-table. For convenience of designation, thisbin has been marked 17 in Fig. 3 only. The operative within the space 18is supposed to assort all of the articles of the lot contained withinthe compartment 17 and to place all of the articles of that articularlot in individual compartments of) the assorting drum before handlingany other lot in any other comparte ment.

The assorting drum 3 may be variously constructed according to theparticular requirements of any laundry but in general it consists of acylindrical drum which is radially sub-divided into a plurality ofassorting compartments, each compartment being further verticallysub-divided into individual bins. It is here shown as mounted on a ho1izontally disposed tubular shaft 20 which is journalled at its ends inuprights 21 rising from the floor. Fast to or integral with the shaft 20is a plurality of radially disposed shelves 22, 22, 22", 22c whichextend slightly beyond the periphery of the discs 23 constituting theends of the drum. The shaft 2O is covered by a tubular moulding 24 whichmay be sectional as shown in Fig. 11 to fit against the inner ends ofthe shelves and cover the shaft 20.

The drum is designed to be rotated intermittently through successivephases of revolution. As here shown, the drum is providedy with fourshelves and is turned a quarter of a revolution at each operation. Thearrangement is such that each quarter turn of the drum brings one of theshelves 22 into each horizontal alignment with the sorting talle and anopposite shelf 22b into alignment with a netting table, (see Fig. 2).The sector shaped compartments A, B, and D which the shelves define witheach other and with the end discs 23 of the drum are verticallysub-divided at suitable intervals by partitions 26 (Fig. 3). Theasserting operative standing 1n the work space 18 and working from theindicated compartment 17 in Fig. 3 asserts and places the articlescomprised init-the lot into the compartment of the drum opposite saidWorking space. This compartment would be the compartment A in Figs. 2and 3. lVhen the assorting of any lot has been completed at theassorting table 19, a signal is given and the compartment A is rotatedto the position now occupied by the compartment B in Figs. 2 and 3. Ifthe netting operatives working opposite compartment B are readyto'liandle a new lot of articles, the drum is rotated through a' quarterrevolution in the direction of the arrow, (Fig. 2), whereby to presentthe lot which has just been assorted to the operative 'at the nettingstation on the opposite side of the drum.

This netting station comprises a horizontally disposed table 27 disposedin line with the assorting table 19 and spaced therefrom by the drumitself. Projecting table 27, is a. series of net suspension arms 27corresponding in number and spacement to the number and spacement of thesubdivisions defined by the partitions 26 of the drum, (see Fig. 3).Each arm 27 is equipped with fasteners 28 from which the nets N areremovably suspended. These nets are simply mesh bags held open at theirupper ends by the fastenings 28. Each operative at the netting tableremoves from the bins of the compartment opposite her the articlescontained in such bins, carefully inspecting such articles to see thatno article has improperly been placed in such bin by the operativeworking at the assorting table 19 and finally empties the contents ofsuch bin into the particular net intended to receive it. This net isthen closed and one of the series of similarly numbered key-tags Tsupported on the key-tag holders 71 is affixed to the net after whichthe nets are passed to the washing machines. The key-tag holders aresimple angle brackets which are removably attached to one of the crossframes 7 0 of the drum. The purpose of this arrangement will be laterdescribed.

In'developing our system, we have p'urposely tried to make the system asnearly failuige proof as possible, that is to say we have deliberatelytried to eliminate the factor of human error. To this end, we haveequipped the apparatus with certain locks and safeguards which have suchan inter relation to one another that they cannot be operatedindependently but must be operated in unison. By this we mean thatunless the operative at the assorting table of the drum has completedher work, it is impossible for the operatives at the netting side of thedrum to rotate the drum to bring to them the lot, on which the operativeat the asserting side of the drum is Working, and vice versa.

from thel We have also made it impossible for the assorting operative torotate the turn-table to bring a diiierent compartment 17 into workingposition, until such time as the assortment of the lot in thecompartment 17, at which she has been working, has been completedv andthe guard curtain 30, Fig. 5, lowered as described hereinafter.

We have also established a signal arrangement which is actuated by theassorting operative when her task is completed. This signals to thenetters that the drum is ready to be rotated and avoids the necessityfor the several operatives at different sides of the drum to conversewith each other. We have also provided that at this time the compartmentinto which the aassorted articles are being placed shall be covered, asby a iexible curtain, so as to prevent the accidental inclusion thereinof `any articles other than those belonging to the particular lot beingassorted.

To this end, we provide a iiexible curtain 30 which is mounted on aspring roller 31 mounted in suitable bearings at the top of thestandards 21 and extending across the assorting compartment A of thedrum from end to end thereof. This curtain is normally rolled up topermit the assorted to place the various articles in their individualbins of the compartment A. When the assorter, working in the space 18,has completed the assortment of the particular lot contained in thespace 17', from which she is working, she is supposed to grasp thecurtain 30 and pull i. it down over the compartment A into which she hasbeen placing the assorted articles. This movement of the curtain is avoluntary movement on her part and must be made by her before the drumcan be rotated.

The act of drawing down the curtain automatically sets into operation anumber of mechanisms. It operates a signal mechanism which may be eitheraudible or visible and as here shown, is a visible signal, (see Figure5), in the form of an electric bulb L which is normally unlighted butwhich is automatically lighted by and in the movement of the curtain toclosed position. We accomplish this by means of an arm 32, (Fig. 5),which is fastened at its lower end 33 to the frame 34 at the lower edgeof the curtain and is pivoted at its upper end at 35 to the switch arm36 of the electric bulb L.

The action is detailed in Figure 5 wherein the normal position of. theparts when the lamp is nnlighted is shown in dot and dash lines. In thisposition of the parts, the curtain is up. )Vhen the curtain is drawndown, the parts assume the position shown in full lines in Figure 5, inwhich position the switch arm of the lamp is actuated to close thecircuit to the lamp and causes the lamp to be illuminated. The lamp ismounted in a signal box 38 and, when lighted, the rays from t-he lampilluminate a translucent plate 39 containing any suitable legend as thedesignation Ready whereby to visually signify to the nettcrs, withoutthe necessity of any conversation, that the drum is ready to be rotated.

The same closing movement of the curtain automatically takes off a drumlock, the normal function of which is to prevent rotation ofthe drumuntil such time as the Ready signal is displayed. This drum lock isshown in Figures 9 and 9a in it sWorking relation to the other parts ofthe apparatus shown in Figure 5. It comprises a leaf spring 40, the freeend of which is disposed within the path of the curtain frame 34 so asto be actuated thereby as the curtain is drawn down. The spring isattached .at its opposite end at 41 to the cross piece 42 of the drumframe and carries a pin 43 between its ends which is normally disposedthrough an opening 44 in the cross piece 42 and is adapted to be engagedin any one of a series, here shown as four, locking openings 45 in theend discs 23 of the drum. (See Figure 9.) Vhen actuated by the frame ofthe curtain, as the curtain is drawn down, the locking pin 43 iswithdrawn from the locking opening 45 in which it happened to be engagedso as to permit the rotation of the drum.

The same closing movement of the curtain is also utilized toautomatically take off a lock for the turn-table. This lock is detailedin Figures 13, 14, 15, and 16 and is shown in its relation to the otherparts of the machine in Figure 3, Such lock comprises a spring stop 50,the free end of which is normally disposed in the path of rotation ofthe turn-table. As here shown, the stop is disposed in the path of oneof a plurality of laterally projecting lugs 51 on the outer rim of thering 12 of the turn-table. There are as many lugs 51 as there arecompartments 17 in the turn-table. The opposite end of the spring stop50 is fastened at 52 to the frame 53. When the curtain is drawn down, itremoves the stop 50 from the path of the lug 51 which it happens to beblocking and permits the rotation of the turn-table by the operativewithin the space 18 a distance of one compartment space 17.

For this purpose, the curtain frame 34 is operatively connected to thestop 50 through suitable motion transmitting connections, which, ashere. shown, comprise a link 54, (see Figure 2), connected at one end tothe curtain frame 34 and linked at 55- and 56 to a bell crank lever 57,(Figures 13, 14, and 15) which is pivoted at 58 in any suitable bearingand carries at its opposite end al latch 59 which is disposed through anelongated slot 60 in the stop 50 and normally latches over the edge ofthe slot to prevent movement of the stop 50, (see Fig. 14).

When actuated, through thev motion transmitting connections justdescribed, the latch 59 draws down the spring stop 50 out of the path ofthe lug 51. This permits the turn table to be rotated one step. (SeeFig. 15.)

In order to restore the stop 50 to its normal position in which it willbe blocking the next lug 51 of the turn table, the lug 51, as it isrotated past the stop 50, contacts with the latch 59 moving itrearwardly in the slot 60, allowing the spring 50 to spring back intonormal interfering position relative to the lu (See Fig. 16.)

his completes the description of the safety locks at the assorting sideof the drum, but before the drum can be rotated to bring the articleswhich have been assorted over to the netting side of the drum, thenetters must be ready to handle the new assortment. The act of rotatingthe drum itself is therefore left to the' netters and, in order toinsure that they will not rotate the drum until all of them are ready,we provide an additional lock for the drum controlled by the key-tags Twhich are removably suspended from one of the cross-frames 70. (SeeFigs. 7 and 8.)

The key-tags are suspended from an angle bracket 71 which is providedwith key-hole slots 72 adapted to removably fit over the heads of thestuds 73 which fasten the bracket 71 to the cross piece 70. This bracketnormally lies in the path of a horizontally disposed plunger 74 which iscarried by a cross piece 75 which connects two stop rods 76 disposed atopposite sides of the drum and at their lower ends are hinged at 7 6 toa cross piece 7 6a carried by the frame of the machine.

At their upper ends, the rods 76 are cross connected as at 77. Anchoredin the cross piece 77 is a pair of flexible cables 78 which operate overpulleys 79 fixed just beneath the netting table 27. The opposite ends ofthe cable 78 are anchored to a treadle 79 whichis pivoted at 80 to theframe of the machine.

The cross piece 77 normally lies in the path of the shelves 22 so as toact as a stop to prevent the rotation of the drum therepast so long asthe treadle is not depressed and also so long as the key-tag bracket 71is mounted on the studs 7 3, in which position the bracket 71 blockstheplunger 74. When the bracket 71 is removed by the netters from the pathof the plunger 74, this plunger can move rearwardly as shown in Fig. 8as the treadle 79 is depressed. I

The act of rotating the drum one step counter-clockwise to bring theassorted lot of articlesover to the netting side of the drumautomatically causes the curtain 3() to be again rolled up so as toallow the operative working in the space 18 to place the next assortmentof articles of the next lot to be assorted in to the next emptyassortment compartment of the drum as it is rotated into position Boposite the assorting table 19. This is eect y the engagement of the nextshelf 22 of the drum with the fra-me 34 of the curtain as the drumrotates into position. The outer ends of the shelves project slightlybeyond the periphery of the drum for this purpose and also for thepurpose of acting as stops against the crosspiece 77, (Fig. 7), to limitthe step by step movement of the drum When rotated.

The rolling up movement of the curtain also automatically extinguishesthe signal lamp and re-applies the drum lock 43 at the assorting side ofthe drum and the lock 50 for the turn-table.

In order to prevent back-lash of the drum as it is turned through itssuccessive phases of revolution, we provide a spring detent 90 which isfastened at one end to the frame of the drum, (Fig. 10) and has its freeend disposed in the path of rotation of the projecting ends of theshelves 22. As the drum rotates therepast in the direction of the arrowin Fig. 10, the detent is pushed inwardly to permit the shelf to movetherepast but is automatically returned by its spring so as to bearfrictionally underneath the projecting shelf-end to prevent accidentalrotation of the drum in the reverse direction.

What we therefore claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is 1. Ina device of the class described, an assorting table, a netting table,and intermittently revoluble compartmented assorting drum disposedbet-Ween said tables.

2. In a device of the class described, an assorting table, a nettingtable, an intermittently-revoluble compartmented assorting 4. In adevice of the class described, an`

assorting table, a netting table, an intermittentlyrevolublecompartmented assorting drum disposed between said tables, and aflexible closure manually operable by the assorter working at theassorting table for closing the compartment of the drum adjacent saidassorting table when assorting has been completed, and a vnormallyinactive signal mechanism automatically set in action by and in themovement of said closure to closed position. l v

5. In a device of the class described, an assorting table, a nettingtable, an intermittently revoluble compartmented assorting drum disposedbetween said tables, a flexible closure manually operable by theassorter working at the assorting table for closing the compartment ofthe drum adjacent said assorting table when assorting has beencompleted, a normally inactive signal mechanism automatically set inaction by and in the movement of said closure to closed position, and anormally applied drum lock automatically removed by and in the movementof said closure to closed position.

6. In a device of the class described, anl

closure to closed position, and means permis-- sive of rotation of thedrum'in one direction therepast but automatically eiective to preventrotation of the drum in the reverse direction.

7. In a device ofthe class described, an.

assorting table, a netting table, key tag holders removably mounted onsaid netting table, an intermittently revoluble compartmentedassortingdrum disposed between said tables, and a normally applied drumlock automaticall removed by the removal of the key tag hol ers from thenetting table.

8. In adevice of the class described, an

assorting table, a netting table, an intermittently revolublecompartmented assorting drum disposed between said tables, anintermittently revoluble compartmented turn-table disposed adjacent saidassorting table, a flexible closure manually operable by the assorterworking at the assorting table for closing the compartment of the drumadjacent said assorting table when assorting has been completed, anormally inactive signal mechanism automatically set in action by themovement of said flexible closure to closed position, and a normallyapplied turn-table lock automatically removed by and in the movement ofsaid closure to closed position.

9. In a device of the class described, an assorting table, a nettin'table, an intermittently revoluble assorting drum disposed between saidtables, and presenting spaced end walls and a plurality of radiallyextending partitions disposed therebetween and defining therewith andwith each other a plurality of sector-shaped assorting compartments eachcomprised by a partition al-ignable with either the assorting table orthe netting table and a partition disposed intermediate of said tablesaccording to the position of the drum, and partitions subdividing eachcom- 4movement of said closure to closed `partment into a series ofindividual assorting bins.

10. In a device of the class described, an`

assorting table, a netting table, an intermittently revoluble assortingdrum disposed between said tables and presenting spaced end walls and aplurality of radiallyextending partitions disposed therebetween and de-11. In a device of the class described, an.

assorting table, a netting table, an intermittently revoluble assortingdrum disposed between said tables and presenting spaced end walls and aplurality of radially extending partitions disposed therebetween anddefining therewith and with each other a plurality of sector-shapedassorting compartments each comprised by apartition alignable witheither the assorting table or the netting table and a partition disposedintermediate of said tables according to the position of the drum,partitions subdividing each compartment into a series of individualassorting bins, a flexible closure manually operable by the assorterworking at the assorting table for closing the compartment of the drumadjacent said assorting table when assorting has been completed, and anormally applied drum lock automatically removed by and in the osition.

12. In a device ofthe class described, an assorting table and a nettingtable disposed in substantially the same horizontal plane and spacedfrom each other, an intermittently revoluble assorting drum disposedbetween said tables, said drum presenting vspaced end walls and aplurality of radially extending partitions disposed therebetweenanddelining ltherewith and with each other a plurality of sector-shapedassorting compartments each comprised by a partition alignable witheither the assorting table or the netting table and a partition disposedintermediate of said tables according to the position of the drum,vertical partitions subdividing each compartment into a series ofindividual assorting bins, a plurality of net suspension arms associatedwith said netting table and equipped to permit quick detachableconnection of the nets, a plurality of key tag holders removablyassociated with said netting table, plungers normallyblocked by said keytag holders, hinged stop rods operatively connected with said plungersand normally disposed for actuation by the compartment forming membersof the drum to prevent rotation thereof, and a treadle operativelyconnected with said stop rods for withdrawing them from the path of thedrum upon removal of said key tag holders from the path of the plungers.

13. In a device of the class described, an assorting table and a nettingtable disposed in substantially the same horizontal plane and spacedfrom each other, an intermittently revoluble compartmented assortingdrum disposed between said tables, a flexible closure for the assortingcompartment, and a signal mechanism automatically applied by themovement of said closure to closed pos1- tion and comprising a signalactuating arm fastened at one end to said closure whereby to follow themovements thereof, an electrical signal, and a switch arm for openingand closing the circuit to said signal and pivotally connected to saidsignal actuating arm, a flexible closure for closing the compartment ofsaid drum into which the articles to be assorted are being placed, and anormally applied drum lock automatically removed by and in the movementof said closure to closed position and comprising a spring having oneend thereof normally disposed in the path of the closure for actuationthereby in the closing movement of the closure and carrying at itsopposite end a lock- .ing pin normally disposed to prevent rotation ofthe drum and automatically withdrawn into a position permissive of freerotation of the drum by and in the movement of the closure to closedposition.

14. In a device of the class described, an intermittently revolublecompartmented assorting drum, and an intermittently revolublecompartmented turn-table disposed adjacent thereto and provided with aspaced series of stop lugs, a flexible closure for closing thecompartment of said drum into which the articles to be assorted arebeing placed, a normally applied turn-table lock automatically removedby and in the movement of said closure to closed position and comprisinga slotted stop having its free end normally disposed in the path of oneof the lugs on the turn-table, and operative connections from said stopto the flexible closure, including a latch having one end thereofprojecting through the slot in said stop and normally latching over theedge of said slot to prevent movement thereof and operative uponactuation of said stop by the closure initially. to move the stop out ofthe path of the lug which it is blocking whereby to permit rotation ofthe turn-table one step and subsequently contacted by said lug as theturn-table is rotated therepast to restore the stop to interferingposition relative to the next following lug on the turn table.

15. In a device of the class described,han

intermittently revoluble4 assorting drum, an

assorting table, and an intermittently revoluble turn table disposedadjacent said assorting tablel and including a circular trackway, ahorizontally disposed shell revoluble with said turn-table thereon andcomprising spaced concentric inner and outer rings defining therebetweenan annular com part-ment, partitions radially subdividing saidcompartment into a series of individual bundle bins, the space includedwithin said inner ring constituting a working space for an operativelocated therein, the outer ring beingprovided with means permissive ofentry and exit of the operative to said working space.

16. In a device of the class described, an intermittently revolubleasserting drum, and an intermittently revoluble turn-table operative inorderly relation thereto, and including a circular track-way, ahorizontally disposed shell revoluble with said turn-table thereon andcomprising spaced concentric inner and outer rings defining therebetweenan annular compartment, partitions radially subdividing said compartmentinto a series of individual bundle bins, the space included within saidinner ring constituting a working space for an operative locatedtherein,the outer Vring bein provided with means permissive of entry an exit ofthe operative to said work- .ing space, and a stationary assorting tabledisposed between the drum and turn-table in a plane above that of theturn-table and beneath which said turn-table revolves through aportion-of its travel, said assorting table having a cut-out ofa lengthand shape substantially. corresponding-to that of the underlying bundlebins and through which cut-out said bins are successively exposable onrotation of the turn-table intermittently therebeneath.

In testimony whereof we affix our signatures.

LAWRENCE D. ROBINSON. FREDERICK C. SMAIL.l

